Royal baby name: The history behind George Alexander Louis

By Monica Sarkar, for CNN

Updated 1623 GMT (2323 HKT) July 25, 2013

Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Prince George takes his first steps in public as his mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, holds his hand Sunday, June 15, at a charity polo event in Cirencester, England.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Prince William and Catherine with Prince George appear in a family portrait at Kensington Palace in March.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Prince William and Catherine leave with their son after the baby's christening in London on October 23. At right is the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Catherine carries her son after his christening.

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Prince George, the royal baby – The couple poses with Prince George in early August at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, England.

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Prince George, the royal baby – The family is seen in August along with Tilly, left, a Middleton family pet, and Lupo, the couple's cocker spaniel.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – The Duke and Duchess depart St. Mary's Hospital in London with their newborn son on July 23. The boy was born at 4:24 p.m. a day earlier, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Catherine holds the baby outside the hospital for the public's first view.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – The new parents stand in front of the Lindo Wing of the hospital.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – A Kensington Palace spokesman said, "Mother, son and father are all doing well this morning."

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Prince George, the royal baby – Catherine hands the baby off to William.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – "He's got her looks, thankfully," William said.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – "It's very special," William said after the baby's birth. The prince had already changed his son's first diaper, the couple told reporters.

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Prince George, the royal baby – The new parents leave the hospital with William carrying the boy out in a car seat and installing him in the back of a black SUV.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – The newborn sits in his car seat for the ride home.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Prince William gets ready to depart St. Mary's Hospital.

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Photos: Prince George, the royal baby18 photos

Prince George, the royal baby – Catherine waves to the crowd gathered outside the hospital.

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Prince George, the royal baby – Well-wishers see the royal couple off after getting a glimpse of the newest heir to the British throne.

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Story highlights

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis

George, many bookies' favorite, was also the name of the queen's father, George VI

"George" -- the front-runner before the announcement, according to many UK bookmakers -- was the name of Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, who reigned from 1936 until his death in 1952. He assumed the throne on the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. His life was depicted in the Oscar-winning movie "The King's Speech."

George I, born in Germany, became king in 1714. He was followed by a line of kings with the same name, including George III, who was known for his bouts of insanity.

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Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Washington: First president of the United States of America (which seems a bit ironic considering all the kings with the same name).

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – Boy George: His full name is George Alan O'Dowd, and it's doubtful that he will have to compete for his nickname with His Royal Highness, Prince George of Cambridge.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – King George III: The leader of Great Britain when the American colonists revolted and third of six King Georges.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Harrison: A member of the Beatles whose compositions include "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something," the Beatles' second most-covered song.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush: America's 41st and 43rd presidents. Bush Sr. is the oldest surviving former president. George W. Bush is the second son of a former president to hold the office.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh Boy! George is everywhere! – George Best: Irish soccer player with a European Cup title under his (stylish) belt. Some say he's the greatest player to ever pull on the Northern Ireland shirt.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Costanza: The long-suffering best friend of Jerry Seinfeld on NBC's "Seinfeld," portrayed by actor Jason Alexander.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Clooney: Oscar-winning actor, film director, producer and two-time winner of People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh Boy! George is everywhere! – George Foreman: The two-time heavyweight champion has a home grill named after him, not to mention all five of his sons are, too.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Lucas: Film producer, screenwriter, director and entrepreneur best known for the "Star Wars" franchise and "Indiana Jones" character. Not to mention financial success in his endeavors.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Carlin: Even with five Grammy Awards, this standup comedian is known for his trip to the U.S. Supreme Court after his "Seven Dirty Words" bit was broadcast on the radio.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Washington Carver: Believed to have been born into slavery, he researched alternatives to growing cotton by switching out the crop with peanuts. He had more than 100 food recipes that used the nuts.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Orwell: OK, actually his name is Eric Arthur Blair, but he published one of the more famous dystopian novels,"1984," under his pen name, so we'll give it to him.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George S. Patton: Known as "Old Blood-and-Guts" by his men, this World War II general is credited with commanding the phantom army based in southeast England that materialized onto the Normandy battlefield.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Strait: This country music icon had 60 top songs before his 61st birthday.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – Gov. George Wallace: Four-time governor of Alabama, best (or worst) known for fighting integration in the 1960s.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Hamilton: Best known for his love of tanning, he also played B.J. Harrison in "the Godfather Part III."

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – Curious George: The monkey protagonist of a children's book series by the same name. The franchise has expanded to television and the big screen.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Lazenby: Maybe this James Bond portrayer will keep an eye on the royal family, as he did in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Although, seeing as how he played 007 only once, maybe he's not interested.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Zimmerman: A former neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, Florida, he came into the spotlight after an altercation with Trayvon Martin left the latter dead from a gunshot wound. He was recently cleared of charges, sparking a massive debate.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Michael: Singer who rose to fame as part of the pop duo "Wham!" and went on to a successful solo career.

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Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Takei: Best known for his role as Mr. Sulu in "Star Trek," he has become known for his work supporting same-sex marriage after announcing that he was gay in 2005 and marrying longtime partner Brad Altman in 2008.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – Gorgeous George: The wrestling name of George Wagner, who used the flamboyant character to become one of the biggest wrestling stars of the 1940s and 1950s.

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Photos: Other famous Georges25 photos

Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Gobel: An actor and comedian best known for "The George Gobel Show," which ran on NBC from 1954 to 1960.

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Oh, boy! George is everywhere! – George Alexander Louis: Known for the past nine months as the "royal baby," the world's newest prince finally has a name: His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. It has been the name of six of Great Britain's kings, but it seems like kings don't have a monopoly on the name.

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EXPAND GALLERY

The name is also a patriotic choice for many in the UK: Saint George, patron saint of England, is known for his legendary defeat of a dragon in the third century. His feast day is celebrated on April 23, (the date also associated with the birth of William Shakespeare, England's most revered writer).

Despite its royal connections, George has humble origins, derived as it is from the Greek name "georgios" meaning "earth worker" or "farmer."

Other historical Georges: composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), first president of the United States George Washington (1732-1799), and the Pacific explorer George Vancouver (1757-1798). Authors Mary Anne Evans and Eric Arthur Blair also chose George as their pen names: George Eliot (1819-1880) and George Orwell (1903-1950) respectively.

Alexander

This gallant title means "defender of men," from the Latin form of the Greek name "Alexandros." Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.), better known as Alexander the Great, courageously ruled and conquered many parts of the world before his untimely death at age 32.

The name "Louis" originates from the English and French interpretations of the German name Ludwig, which can be interpreted as "renowned warrior."

Louis was the first name of Lord Mountbatten, uncle of George's great-grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and mentor to Prince Charles. He was killed by the IRA while holidaying in Ireland in 1979.

No British monarch has been named Louis, but it is very popular across the English Channel in France, where 18 kings have taken the name from 814 onward. Louis XIV, the Sun King, reigned from 1643 until 1715 and was hailed by many as the greatest monarch of his age because of the growth in French power and the opulence of his court, which included the Palace of Versailles.

Louis XVI was the king of France from 1774 until 1792, when he was found guilty of treason after the revolution and executed in 1793.

Other historical figures named Louis: French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895); Métis leader Louis Riel (1844-1885), who led a rebellion against Canada; and Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), who wrote "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."